[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 187 (Monday, November 13, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Government Funding

  Madam President, on another topic of urgent importance, 45 days have 
passed since we narrowly avoided a government shutdown by passing a 
continuing resolution or CR.
  And it is hard to believe that we face the same dilemma again now. So 
much has happened in the last month, all of which only underscores the 
importance of funding our government. From the outbreak of war in 
Israel to the tragic murder of 18 people in Maine in a mass shooting, 
these last 45 days have shown the importance of illustrating to the 
world that the United States is a responsive ally and illustrating that 
we have a functioning government that rises above partisanship to meet 
the needs of Americans.
  And yet, 45 days after passing the short-term spending bill to keep 
the government's lights on, here we are again . . . with another 
government shutdown looming. In order to avoid a shutdown at the end of 
this week, Congress must pass a bipartisan CR to keep the government 
open so we can continue to do our jobs and fully fund the government 
for the next year. At this point, folks are probably tired of hearing 
the term ``government shutdown.'' But it is not just a political 
buzzword. It is a quickly approaching reality that would have 
devastating impacts on our Nation.
  Recent reports show that our economy is recovering from the depths of 
the pandemic. However, a government shutdown would have disastrous 
effects on it. It has been estimated that the last shutdown in 2013 
reduced GDP growth by $20 billion and the 5-week partial shutdown in 
2018 reduced economic output by $11 billion.
  A government shutdown would mean that essential social services would 
be slowed and federal employees and military service members would go 
without paychecks for their families as the holidays approach. But more 
than just hurting those who work for the government, a government 
shutdown would also hurt every American who relies on the government to 
get by. It would halt small business loans, stall life-saving medical 
research, and jeopardize nutrition assistance for low-income women, 
infants, and children. Further, ahead of one of the busiest travel 
weekends of the year, a shutdown would cause travel delays, because 
thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA officers would work 
without pay.
  And as Israel continues to defend itself against Hamas and Ukraine 
against Russian aggression, a government shutdown would jeopardize 
America's ability to support our allies and keep Americans safe. It 
also would hamper our life-saving foreign assistance programs, keeping 
us from providing food and medicine to those desperately in need, from 
Gaza and Haiti to the DRC and Sudan.
  That is why it is essential that Congress pass another short-term 
spending bill ahead of the shutdown deadline on November 17. The United 
States of America must prove to our allies and enemies that we can rise 
to the occasion when the world needs our leadership most and to our own 
people that we can keep the lights on to govern. And after we pass a 
short-term CR, the only path forward to fund the government for the 
next fiscal year is one of bipartisanship and cross-chamber unity.
  For 3 essential weeks during the current short-term funding period, 
the Republican-led House was without a Speaker. While the House was 
paralyzed, the Senate was busy negotiating bipartisan funding bills. 
Two weeks ago, we passed three spending bills with the support of 82 
senators, and we continue to work across the aisle on the remaining 
bills.
  The Republican chaos has finally ended in the House--but while there 
may be a new Speaker, House Republicans are still plaguing the Chamber 
with their old problems. Unlike the Senate, the only funding bills 
they've passed are deeply partisan ones that do not adhere to the 
budget agreement Congress passed earlier this year.
  It is time for both parties in both Chambers to come together and 
fund our government. And I sincerely hope that my Republican colleagues 
in the House will approach that task in good faith--without hard-right 
proposals and drastic budget cuts that they know Democrats, and the 
American people, will never support.
  Funding the government is one of the essential parts of this job. It 
is time to fulfill our basic duties in a way that doesn't disrupt 
Americans' livelihood and well-being during what should be a joyous 
time of year. We need to finish the full-year appropriations process. 
And to do that in a responsible way, we need to keep the government 
open and operational.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Iowa.